Welcome to the New Faces column, where we are pleased to introduced the newest authors on the romance scene. This time we'd like to present Ellen Fisher, whose historical romance A Light in the Darkness is now available. Welcome, Ellen!

Tell us about Ellen Fisher.

I'm a native of Virginia and currently reside in the Richmond area. I received a B.A. in history from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. I have a wonderful husband, Don, who is kind enough to actually read and edit my books, despite the fact that he is most decidedly not a lover of romantic fiction. I also have two brilliant and beautiful daughters, Victoria and Elizabeth.

Are you coming to romance writing from another job?

After college, I worked as an insurance underwriter for five years. Then I "retired" to become a stay-at-home mom. Yes, I'm definitely working at another job... caring for a three-year-old and a three-month-old! Insurance was a less stressful career, but also far less rewarding.

What led you to write romance?

I read my first historical romance novel when I was sixteen. It was Deceive Not My Heart, by Shirlee Busbee, which I still consider a classic of the genre. I've always liked to write, and I tried my hand at writing nonfiction and poetry as well as fiction. Once I started reading romances, though, I didn't really want to write anything else.

Tell us about getting A Light in the Darkness published.

My first book was, well, dreadful. I wrote it during college. When I graduated I sent it to three publishers, receiving nothing in return but the dreaded form rejections. (Considering the quality of the book, I'm lucky I got that much.) Writing 100,000 words, however, can't help but improve your writing ability. My second book was written over a period of several years, and the only person who critiqued it was my ever-patient husband (who is very critical!). I submitted it to Bantam without an agent and was extremely surprised and delighted when they called to buy it.

Who are your influences as a writer?

My first and most important influence was Shirlee Busbee, without whom I never would have started reading and writing historical romances in the first place. My all-time favorite romance writer is Judith McNaught, who makes me cry every time I read one of her books (and I almost never cry over books). It's my goal to make my readers cry over my books as much as I cried over Whitney, My Love. Another favorite is Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz, whose light and witty style I admire greatly, although it is very different from my own style.

What does your family think of having a romance author in their midst?

My dad is slightly embarrassed by the fact that my book has a bare-chested guy on the cover, but very proud nevertheless. My husband is ridiculously proud and embarrasses me by telling everyone we meet that I am an Actual Published Author. My three-year-old is happy because my book is orange, which is her favorite color. The baby has no opinion.

Tell us about plans for future books.

I have a two-book contract with Bantam and am still working on my second book. It is set in eighteenth-century Virginia, just as The Light in the Darkness is.

Ellen, how can readers contact you?

I'd love to get reader e-mail at ellenfisher@erols.com, and my web site address is www.erols.com/ellenfisher.

Thanks, Ellen, and best of luck with your next books! Readers, check out our review of A Light in the Darkness.

October 11, 1998